Power Structure: Los Zetas is considered by the U.S. government to be the "most technologically advanced, sophisticated, and dangerous cartel operating in Mexico." Unlike most of the other cartels in Mexico, only about half of the Zetas efforts are focused around drug trafficking.
With the help of the ex-military and police presence in the cartel, Los Zetas have set up camps to train recruits as well as corrupt ex-federal, state, and local police officers; these camps have been identified as having a similar setup as military GAFE training facilities.
Testimony from the former Defense Secretary Clemente Vega in '05 indicated that Los Zetas had hired at least 30 former Kaibiles from Guatemala to train new recruits because the number of former Mexican special forces men in their ranks had shrunk.
Alliances:
Beltrán-Leyva Cartel
Juárez Cartel
'Ndrangheta
Los Mazatlecos
Rivalries:
Gulf Cartel
Sinaloa Cartel
Knights Templar Cartel
Jalisco New Generation Cartel
In-fighting has been an issue for Los Zetas; they are an unstable organized crime group with a long history of brutal violence.